June 8, 2013:  Bi-monthly meeting at Emma Prusch Park in San Jose.  Open to all.  Meeting starts at 1:00.  Come early for chatting and snacking. The topic will be about roots, root growth,  and watering with Robert Kourik. A few examples of the facts to be discussed are: Feeding roots often tend to grow up rather than down. About 90% of a tree’s roots are to be found in the top 18 inches of the soil beneath and beyond the foliage. Some roots pass water on to the nearby roots of other plants. In this lecture, learn about the true facts of root growth with tips about how the new understanding of how roots can effect your approach to gardening and irrigation. It’ll amaze you.

April 13, 2013:  Bi-monthly meeting at Emma Prusch Park in San Jose.  Open to all.  Meeting starts at 1:00.  Come early for chatting and snacking. The meeting will be about citrus. Aaron Dillon from Four Winds will be presenting. Topics will include fertilizer, cultivation, planting, management, and varieties, with plenty of opportunity for asking questions you might have.   Check out “Member Stories” for my summary of this meeting….

As spring dawns, dormant pruning is hopelessly behind, and legion weeds assertively worm roots through perfect soil, while their greens push aside white-molded mulch toward the seemingly thoughtless inferno that keeps and kills us all.  More than a few trees suffer severe sucker growth, as well.  Atop these routine concerns, and with loftier priority, we will be planting several new trees.  Besides the opportunity to leave a visible and worthy legacy by planting a rare tree, you are likely to gain a few pointers for the next time you plant one at home.

Citrus Scions:  In case you happen to check the website before the meeting, I just prepared all the scions as best I could. Each stick has 3 to 7 buds or so depending on the size and quality of the received wood. In order to try and meet the cost of ordering the wood, each stick will sell for $1.00. Bring singles if you can.
Here again is the list of what I ordered, based mostly on suggestions from the group…Cocktail Grapefruit, Buddha Hand Citron, Fukamoto Navel, Midknight Valencia, Kiyomi Tangor, Cara Cara Navel, Pink Eureka Lemon, Thornless Mexican Lime, Bream Torocco Blood Orange, Aoshima Satsuma, Nordman Nagami, Xie Shan Satsuma, Clementine de Nules Mandarin, Finger Lime

Remember to bring a bag to put your selected scions and a marking pen and labels so you will be able to identify later what you selected.  All sticks will look alike once you get them home.  Remember how to care for your scions once you get them home.  Give the bag a spritz of water and store them in the refrig, not the freezer.  Wait until Feb. or Mar. when your trees wake up from dormancy to start grafting.  Watch your trees as they will tell you.  The buds on the trees will start swelling up and you will be able to graft up to and during popcorn stage.  After that, you will need a lot more luck.  Usually the plums and prunes will be the first ready to graft, then the peaches and nectarines, then the apricots and later the apples, pears and kiwis.

October 13, 2012:  Bi-monthly meeting at Emma Prusch Park in San Jose.  Open to all.  Meeting starts at 1:00.  Come early for chatting and snacking. The topic will be about Pears!  C. Todd Kennedy, a well known fruitarian and long term CRFG member will be speaking. Check http://www.arboreum.biz/ for information about Todd’s fruit trees.

October 20, 2012:  Apple Tasting at Wilder Ranch just north of Santa Cruz. The tasting and other fun events at the annual Heritage Harvest Festival run from 11:00 to 4:00. This event is open to the public. Come taste a wide variety of apples, mostly grown by CRFG members from Monterey chapter.

September 11-13, 2012: Annual Festival of Fruits! In Santa Rosa at the Sonoma Fairgrounds. This event will be in combination with the second annual National Heirloom Exposition.

August 11, 2012:  Our August meeting at Emma Prusch Park in San Jose will be a presentation and will include practical experience.  Open to all.  Meeting starts at 1:00.  Come early for chatting and snacking. The topic will be summer pruning with Matthew Sutton.